title: The therapeutic potential of GPR120: a patent review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia and a wide range of underlying metabolic defects. The prevalence and incidence of T2D are expected to dramatically increase in the near-future and consequently, there is a significant medical need for diabetes care. Many targets are under investigation to lower the plasma glucose levels or increase the insulin sensitivity. Despite newer drug classes emerging as viable long-term treatment options for the management of T2D, achieving an optimal glycemic control along with sufficient effectiveness over the course of the disease remains a challenge. In this regard, among several G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), GPR120 and GPR40 have recently been considered as viable targets for diabetes and metabolic disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article reviews the current literature on the discovery and development of GPR120 agonists in diabetes and metabolic disorders and updates on the published patents in this field. The patent study for this review has been carried out using multiple electronic databases including SciFinder and Thomson Reuters Integrity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A paradigm shift in the treatment of diabetes is needed, wherein a single therapeutic agent could target diabetes and its associated disorders such as high plasma glucose level and inflammation, with excellent safety and tolerability profile. In this regard, agonists of GPR120 or dual-agonist GPR120 and GPR40 are highly anticipated as therapeutic approaches for the treatment of diabetes on the basis of their novel glucose-dependent mechanism of action.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Piramal Enterprises Ltd , 1, Nirlon Complex, Off Western Exp. Highway, Near NSE Complex, Goregaon East, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400 063 , India +91 22 30818078 ; somnath.halder@piramal.com.
authors.forename: Somnath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Halder
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sharma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008659:Metabolic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D010330:Patents as Topic; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000819:agonists*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; C519853:FFAR4 protein, human; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled